Background: This is more of an ode to a brewery that I have not been to yet, but have always wanted to visit. Flying Dog brewery is probably best known for the label art done by Ralph Steadman (Editor's Note: Ralph Steadman is probably best known for his work with Hunter S. Thompson, including the poster for Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas). It might be sacrilege to say this, but I associate his art with the brewery almost exclusively.

Flying Dog represents a very awesome, forward thinking brewery in the DMV region that has continued to push the envelope as they grow. Everyone has probably heard of the Dead Rise Summer Ale (a summer beer with Old Bay seasoning), and I still remember when the brewery first began experimenting with the spice, trying to find some way to incorporate this Maryland staple into a beer. I got to try a Gose they made with Old Bay at a bar in DC. It was one of those beers that you definitely wanted to drink one of, and only one. What I liked about that experience was that the brewery was going for it to try to make the beer work. They eventually toned the spice down for a crisp, drinkable summer beer.

I have loved all of Flying Dog's beers, from Barrel Aged Gonzo Imperial Porter to The Fear Imperial Pumpkin Ale. This is a great brewery that everyone needs to make a point to try--they make top quality beer and will keep making you think about what beer can be. While none of us have managed to get there, we hope one day to make the trip.

The Beers: Since I knew I wanted to write about Flying Dog but I wasn’t able to make it to the brewery itself, I did the next best thing: travel around to a few different Maryland beer stores and grab a handful of cool and interesting Flying Dog beers that showcase what the brewery is all about. In the end, I grabbed four beers from a handful of different style and creativity levels.

Bloodline Blood Orange Ale - IPA (7.0% ABV) - Does everyone do a citrus IPA? Kinda. But this actually tastes like beer, not just juice. It’s crisp and refreshing, while still being hoppy and not too dominated by the citrus.

Naughty Egg Nog Ale - Strong Ale (8.4% ABV) - This beer is an experience. They have nailed the eggnog flavor profile to a T. So much spice and nutmeg. I could drink this all winter.

Final Thoughts: While we have not had the chance to get to this brewery, we definitely suggest that everyone should make an effort to get to Frederick to try their beer. They make a wide variety of awesome and inventive beers. Hopefully you’re craving one of the four above by now, but if not, don’t worry. Flying Dog has no shortage of cool and creative beers to choose from, and there’s sure to be more than a few that you’ll love.

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